- Ministry institute internal investigation
- Employees allegedly approved fake Category A enterprises claims
Mbabane – The Public Enterprise Unit (PEU) under the Ministry of Finance has reportedly suspended at least six employees for alleged fraud.
According to sources privy to details, the PEU is among its duties responsible for collecting funds from Category A enterprises which in turn is used by these government parastatals for training programmes.
Sources revealed that these government parastatals would have to follow procedure in claiming the funds for purported training exercises.
Although the exact number of employees could not be immediately ascertained when this report was compiled, sources claimed that at least six employees were facing suspension and the ministry was undertaking internal investigation to get to the bottom of the matter.
The internal investigation was also confirmed by the ministry through communications officer Setsabile Dlamini.
“The ministry is aware of the allegations. The matter is currently under internal investigation. At this stage, we are unable to provide further details to preserve the integrity of the process,” said the ministry spokesperson.
This was after she had been informed that it had been brought to the attention of Independent News Eswatini that some employees under the Public Enterprise Unit have been handed suspensions on alleged fraudulent acts. Our sources claimed that the alleged suspended employees are said to have endorsed the release funds purportedly to Category A Public Enterprises in the pretence that the funds were to be used by these government owned entities for training exercises. This publication was further informed that the funds were actually not directed to the alleged public enterprises but were redirected for personal use which equates to corruption practice.
Last year, a civil servant, employed by the Ministry of Finance in the Treasury Department, was served with a letter of suspension after she allegedly colluded with her husband to defraud government E5 million.
This was after she appeared before the Civil Service Commission (CSC), where she was informed about the recommendation by the accountant general to have her interdicted from work. She reportedly did not object to the recommendation to have her suspended from work pending conclusion of the internal investigations. During her appearance before the commission, she was informed that her suspension was pending finalisation of internal investigation, instituted by the Treasury Department in terms of Regulation 41 of the Civil Service Board (General) Regulations of 1963.
“You are, therefore, informed that you are suspended from duty on full pay effective immediately pending finalisation of the internal investigations,” reads part of the correspondence.
The employee was further directed to report to the office of the deputy accountant general every Monday, where she would be expected to affix her signature as proof of existence. She was also ordered to surrender all her working tools to the deputy accountant general, with immediate effect. The prosecution had recently obtained an order to preserve immovable property and money belonging to the civil servant and her husband, who is a businessman.
The application to preserve the items was made in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) of 2018. The couple was alleged to have, among other things, used the money to build a lavish double- storey house, situated at Mahebedla and paid school fees for their children in expensive private schools. Some of the money was deposited into one of their children’s bank account.
Meanwhile, during investigations, it was reportedly found that evidence was erased and some files were pilfered. This was disclosed by the Head of Assets Forfeiture Unit, in the office of the director of public prosecutions (DPP), Principal Crown Counsel Elsie Matsebula, in her affidavit. Matsebula also narrated the hardship and resistance they encountered during the investigation. The investigator of the matter on the other hand, Detective Constable Enock Maseko, submitted that during investigations, documentation from the Treasury Department and Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) detailing the payments were received.
He narrated to the court that upon receiving the documentation, he was led to other ministries and departments which included the master of the High Court, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and the Ministry of Health.
“I received prompt response from the Ministry of Economic Planning pertaining to the payment of E220 000 to Bonginkhosi, which was purported to be compensation for relocating at Sikhuphe. The under- secretary in the ministry provided an affidavit denying instructing the Treasury Department to pay Bonginkhosi such amount,” submitted the investigator. The investigator brought it to the attention of the court that he failed to receive information on time from the Ministry of Health, which cited different reasons for the delay.
He highlighted that investigations were continuing in this regard. He went on to tell the court that information was received from the master of the High Court through a memorandum denying knowledge of the transaction of E204 028 paying the estate of Samson Dlamini. He stated that they then prepared a spread sheet of the usage of the funds that were deposited into Bonginkhosi’s bank account.
“I noted a number of suppliers of building materials, which included Macsteel, HC Block yard and a quarry site, to mention a few. I forwarded court orders to the different suppliers seeking information in respect of the payments received from Bonginkhosi’s Opulence bank account,” said Maseko. He brought it to the attention of the court that he promptly received information being an affidavit, invoices and delivery notes from Macsteel. As per the investigator, a further affidavit and invoices were received from HC Block yard. The investigator said he was still waiting for more information from the other suppliers, which would be provided in the forfeiture application in the event they received same.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for the latest news:
Join Now
